It’s June- time for hurricane season and more alligator shenanigans. Last month visiting family wanted to see Gators-big ones, so we went to Gatorland, in Orlando. This month I could not resist going again, just to see if I could capture anything different. This time the trip included my sister’s and their families…..I always love seeing kids discover new and exciting things and if I can capture that image forever even better for us.

We had the usual great time, as much as one can have when you feel like your face is melting off- I love Florida :). This day I lucked out and caught a few new types of birds and some very big gators jumping. Yes gators can jump, much too high in my opinion. I still did not get to do the ziplines (Gatorland has 7) but I did get to take a cooling ride on the train, while the rest of the family took advantage of the small water park. As always I hope you enjoy this family adventure.

Happy May Everyone! Spring is pretty much over here in Florida and the temps are hot, hotter, and even hotter already. This is the time of the year the Snowbirds are packing up and summer-izing their homes. While I am really going to miss them, it will be nice to be able to drive a few miles and not have it take hours. 🙂 Safe travels and See you all next year.

It has been a few weeks since I have posted- the eye thing….and I am just now getting to photos I took a few weeks back in April. Once again I had visitor’s who wanted to see some gators, and while I have found a few good spots (as you have seen in past posts), there is only one place to find gators up close and personal and that is Gatorland Florida.

I know many people have mixed emotions when it comes to animals in captivity- it is still the best way to see animals that you have not seen or been exposed to. Gatorland is that place in the Orlando area. Owned and operated by the Godwin family since 1949, they have a water park, an alligator breeding marsh, Screaming Gator Ziplines (7) and are home to literally hundreds of different kinds of birds and animals. They even have their own bar-b-q house called Pearls. Gatorland is a great value for the price, especially in this area, where tourist just means you pay triple, but not only that it is a great family fun place. One where anyone can learn about our surrounding everglade environment.. and what lurks within it. 🙂

Where to start…..It has been a long couple of week’s. April is almost at an end and with the rain we’ve had lately, the whole state is in full bloom. I don’t really know what it is about buds and blooms that make me so happy- Maybe it’s the renewal of life, maybe it’s the pretty colors or iridescent hues. Regardless, I want to explore, discover, and share every line on every petal up close and personal. Well maybe not every one. 🙂

I have not been out and about lately, or even photographed many things due to an eye issue that I hope is healing. It has been several very long weeks since I have touched my camera, or even edited waiting photos. With that being said…I am going to share the first thing I have been physically able to photograph-my blooming flowers- but be forewarned I have many gator photos to come. 🙂

Happy April Fool’s Day from the Treasure Coast. Remember to err on the side of safety–too many things can go bad way too fast…. ask Google. Celebrate safe.

Pollen Season is finally over in Florida; make way for the rainy season and 90 degree temperatures. Way back in March 🙂 I came upon a great opportunity to see some gators up close and close to home. My friends and family, who visit, will often ask if I can show them and alligator or a bear…..yes we have bears in Florida. Upon requests like these one could just go to Gatorland (totally The Best)- but its nice when you don’t have to drive into the Big City (Orlando).

So imagine my surprise when I finally went to one of the places, I always say I am going to go and Boom! Small, medium and large- White City Park has them all. This place was enchanting with its blooming bottle brush and Hong Kong Orchids draped in Spanish Moss. I immediately fell in love with its winding waterways, beautiful birds, and White Koi fish. But be careful because in this place gators swim freely. (No fences of any kind) It also has quite a few pic-nick spots and I even spotted one nervy fellow, napping under one of the many pavilions. EEK!

I will try not to overshare as I always do– I have so many photos that I would like to share, I am not sure what I will post next. Until then ,I hope as always you enjoy the photos and adventure. 🙂

I know that March Madness is primarily a basketball term, but I am borrowing it for my purpose today. If you follow me on Facebook at all, you have no doubt heard me complain about the pollen here on the Treasure Coast. It is absolutely insane the amount of yellow, coating everything outdoors; A bright, almost fluorescent substance that has kept me inside taking photos of my pets…. LOL. Even better the weatherman predicts that pollen season is here to stay, so recently I took steps to curb my March madness (Cabin fever to my Northern friends): I took some allergy meds and went outdoors to shoot.

I must say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. Two days in a row my partner and I just started driving toward places we’ve never been and lucked out in and around the Vero Beach areas. Up and down the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River (A1A), there are literally dozens of preserves and beaches to choose from.This night we chose the Vero Beach, Indian River side hoping to get a good shot of the setting sun- I hope you will agree, this area did not disappoint.

I took many, many photographs, but instead of sharing them all I am going to share just my favorite’s. As always I hope you enjoy.

🙂

Florida is its best in winter. Not only because the weather is cooler, but because the snowbirds come back, and one can go outside without dying from the heat. Now it normally does not rain and flood everyday this time of the year…but that is pretty much how the weather has been here recently, in mostly sunny Florida. But for all the current soupiness, you will not hear me complaining as we have had extremely hot weather up until now. So ever the optimist, I decided this day to cover my camera and head out to see if anything else was enjoying the weather. Lucky for me and you, that it was not long until I found something…..and as a reward for my optimistic attitude, I found a new bird in the sanctuary…at least new to me. I hope as always you enjoy my rainy day photos.

Happy December.

Can you believe that in a little over two weeks we will be celebrating Christmas? Yes I celebrate Christmas.

I know that I talk a lot about time. It has become very important to me, as it seems to fly by faster everyday. Maybe that is why I feel such a need to preserve mine/our memories, because we never know how much time we all have left together. It gives me a certain amount of satisfaction knowing, or hoping that one day, my photographs will make people smile and remember that time, that place and those people. Just another random thought. 🙂

As I stated in an earlier post, I have only a few random photos to share from my trip up North. This day we are visiting a park in Gladwin, Michigan. This park is particularly close to my heart, as I spent a lot of time as a kid here. Although not a very big park…. it seemed much bigger when I was younger, it is still a great place to take a stroll, swing on the swings or tube/canoe/kayak down the Cedar River. They now even have a campground. Located right in the middle of town, the park is extremely close and convenient to everything. Some of my best memories were made in this park and on the Cedar River. I especially love the White Birch trees that line the river, they cannot be found everywhere in the U.S.

As always I truly hope you enjoy this day in the park as much as I did.